Methods Of Preparing Hydrocarbon, Water And Organophilic Clay Emulsions And Compositions Thereof
OwnerDaniel Guy Pomerleauinventor
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Abstract
This invention relates to compositions and methods for improving the performance of organophilic organic-clay complexes, which are dispersible in organic liquids to form a gel therein. Depending on the composition of the gel, such gels may be useful as lubricating greases, oil-based muds, oil base packer fluids, paint-varnish-lacquer removers, paints, foundry molding sand binders, adhesives and sealants, inks, polyester laminating resins, polyester gel coats, cosmetics, detergents, and the like.
Claims22
A method for controlling the viscosity of an oil and water emulsion comprising the step of introducing an effective amount of an emulsifier to an oil and water emulsion containing organophilic clay (OC) to produce a desired viscosity in the emulsion wherein the emulsifier is selected from any one of:
- a. any one of a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA);
- b. a blend of two or more different C8-C18 SFAs;
- c. a blend of a C8-C18 SFA and at least one 2-5n unsaturated fatty acid (UFA);
- d. a vegetable oil selected from any one of safflower oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and canola oil;
- and
- e. tallow oil.
A method for controlling the viscosity of an oil and water emulsion comprising the step of introducing an effective amount of an emulsifier to an oil and water emulsion containing organophilic clay (OC) to produce a desired viscosity in the emulsion wherein the emulsifier is a blend of a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA) and at least one unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) and the ratio of SFA to UFA is adjusted to produce the desired viscosity.
A method for producing a hydrocarbon/water/organophilic clay emulsion having a desired viscosity comprising the steps of:
- a) blending a hydrocarbon continuous phase and a water dispersed phase together with an organophilic clay;
- and,
- b) introducing an effective amount of an emulsifier the emulsifier selected from any one of:
- i. any one of a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA);
- ii. a blend of two or more different C8-C18 SFAs;
- iii. a blend of a C8-C18 SFA and at least one 2-5n unsaturated fatty acid (UFA);
- iv. a vegetable oil selected from any one of safflower oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and canola oil;
- and
- v. tallow oil.
A method of controlling the emulsion stability of an oil and water emulsion comprising the steps of introducing an effective amount of an emulsifier to an oil and water emulsion containing organophilic clay (OC) to produce a desired emulsion stability in the emulsion wherein the emulsifier is a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA) and at least one an unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) and the ratio of SFA to UFA is adjusted to produce the desired emulsion stability.
A method of increasing the emulsion stability of an oil and water emulsion comprising the step of introducing an effective amount of a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA) emulsifier to an oil and water emulsion containing organophilic clay (OC).
A method of increasing the oil-wetting properties of an oil and water emulsion comprising the step of introducing an effective amount of at least one unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) emulsifier to an oil and water emulsion containing organophilic clay (OC).
A hydrocarbon/water/organophilic clay composition having a desired viscosity comprising:
- a hydrocarbon continuous phase;
- a water dispersed phase;
- an organophilic clay;
- and,
- an emulsifier, the emulsifier selected from:
- i. any one of a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA);
- ii. a blend of two or more different C8-C18 SFAs;
- iii. a blend of a C8-C18 SFA and at least one 2-5n unsaturated fatty acid (UFA);
- iv. a vegetable oil selected from any one of safflower oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and canola oil;
- and
- v. tallow oil.
- wherein the amounts of organophilic clay and emulsifier are selected to maximize the performance of the organophilic clay for the desired viscosity of the composition.
A drilling fluid composition comprising
- a hydrocarbon continuous phase;
- a water dispersed phase;
- an organophilic clay;
- and,
- an emulsifier, the emulsifier selected from
- i. any one of a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA);
- ii. a blend of two or more different C8-C18 SFAs;
- iii. a blend of a C8-C18 SFA and at least one 2-5n unsaturated fatty acid (UFA);
- iv. a vegetable oil selected from any one of safflower oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and canola oil;
- and
- v. tallow oil.
A method for drilling a wellbore comprising the steps of:
- a. operating a drilling assembly to drill a wellbore;
- and
- b. circulating an oil-based drilling fluid through the wellbore, the oil-based drilling fluid comprising:
- i. a hydrocarbon continuous phase;
- ii. a water dispersed phase;
- iii. an organophilic clay;
- and,
- iv. an emulsifier, the emulsifier selected from
- 1. any one of a C8-C18 saturated fatty acid (SFA);
- 2. a blend of two or more different C8-C18 SFAs;
- 3. a blend of a C8-C18 SFA and at least one 2-5n unsaturated fatty acid (UFA);
- 4. a vegetable oil selected from any one of safflower oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and canola oil;
- and
- 5. tallow oil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.